"AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Chris Morris will move closer to their Test returns when they play for the South African Invitation XI against Zimbabwe in a three-day warm-up match in Paarl ahead of the Boxing Day Test. Temba Bavuma is the other Test player included in the squad for the practice match ahead of an eight-Test home summer."

The squad will be captained by Graeme Cremer and has no space for Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Michael Chinouya and Nyasha Mayavo, who were all involved in Zimbabwe's last Test series against West Indies. Instead, they will send a trimmed but promising group to South Africa, with a combination of experience in the form of Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine and Chris Mpofu, and sprinklings of youth.

"AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn have returned to South Africa's Test squad for the inaugural four-day, day-night Test against Zimbabwe, which starts on Boxing Day in Port Elizabeth. De Villiers last played a Test in January 2016, while Steyn has not played international cricket after suffering a shoulder injury in Perth last year."

An indication of how difficult things might be for zimbabwe in the four-day Boxing Day Test...the Invitation side won by five wickets, despite Bavuma resting. Vasconcelos hit 57 not out to take the Invitation team to a five-wicket win.

"Faf du Plessis will miss the four-day, day-night Test against Zimbabwe, which starts on Boxing Day, after his recovery from back and shoulder injuries was delayed by a viral infection. AB de Villiers, who makes his return to Test whites for the first time since January 2016, will captain the side in place of du Plessis."

A bit on anti-climax coming your way - Dale Steyn will not play in this Test. He has picked up a viral infection too.

a) Each day of the Test match will be played over six-and-a-half hours, instead of the usual six hours.b) Each day will have 98 overs, as opposed to 90 in five-day games.c) The cut-off follow-on deficit becomes 150 runs, as opposed to 200 in five-day games.d) The session timings: 1.30pm to 3.45pm; 4.05pm to 6.20pm; 7pm to 9pm